Firing instrument for marine mines



L. J. HUSTEI). FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARIN-E MINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20' I917- -RENEWED APR. 21.1921,

1,387,722. Patented Aug. 16, 1921 I3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

13 SI 73 J3 1 66 w *2 i s g I 6 J. 5'

is g 1 .46 61 II/01111111111.ylllllllllllmvll Ill 11111111111111? L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1917. RENEWED APR. 21,1921,

' 1,387,722. Patented Aug. 16,1921.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 5 5 A A 4 Q :L N

gwue'ntoz L. J. HUSTED. FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.20, 1917. RENEWED APR- 21,1921.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 3- L. J. HUSTED. FIRING INSTRUMENT FQR MARINE MINES. APPLICATION FILED 00120. 1917. RENEWED APR. 21.1921.

1,387,722. I Patented Aug. 16,1921:

I3 SHEETSSHEET 4.

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-20,1817. RENEWED APR. 21.1921,

1 1,387,722, Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

,INVENTOR.

I I ATTORNEY.

I L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MENES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1917. RENEWED APR. 21.1921.

1 ,387 ,7 22 Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I N VEN TOR. zjgwym A TTORNE Y.

L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 20. x91? RENEWED APR. 21.1921.

Patented Aug. 16,1921.

EETS-SHEET 7.

l/lll A TTORNE Y.

L. J. HUSTED. FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1 911. RENEWED APR. 21.1921,

1,387,722. PatentedAug. 16, 1921.

13 SHEETSSHEET B.

attozmzq L. J. HUSTED.

-FI.RI NG l-NSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1-911.

RENEWED APR. 21,1921,

Patented Aug. 16, 1921. 9 I3 SHEETS-SHEET 9 L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1911. RENEWED APR. 21.1921,

L M 2m m w W Gummy,

L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED 001.20. 1917. RENEWEDAPR. 21,1921.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921-.

l3 SHEETS-SHEET II.

L. I. HUSTED. FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT, 20,1917- I'IENEWED APR. 21,1921.

1,387,722. Patented g- 16,1921.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

L. J. HUSTED.

FIRING INSTRUMENT FOR MARINE MINES.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20,1917. RENEWED APR. 21,1921. 1,387,722.

' Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET I 3.

a... m'IWllIlllllwmm/jullm 1.; W W W W W W m W attomwq em stares OFF CE-Q LnMUriLJ. BUSTED, or KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

HFIRING INSTRUMENT Fort MARINE MINES.

Specification of we. Patent. 1 Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

Application filed October 20, 1917, Serial No. 197,724. Renewed April 21, .1921. 1 Serial No. 464,007.

T 0 all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, LEMUEL J. HUSTED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firing Instruments for Marine Mines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The inventionrelates to magnetically operated electrical circuit closing mechanism for firing and exploding marine mines and seeks to provide a simple and effective instrument which can be connected to or directly mounted upon the marine mine so that when a vessel approaches the mine, the magnetic repulsion or attraction of the vessel will operate the instrument and close the electrical circuit and fire and explode the mine. 7 y The most approved type of marine. mine employed by the United States and other countries requires actual contact of the mine by the vessel in order to fire the mine, -and a still greater objection lies in the recognized fact that the vessel can strike the mine and not fire and explode it, owing to the further fact that the vessel must strike the minein a position and under conditions that will roll and rotate the mine at least several degrees before the explosion of the mine can result.

Marine mines are usually of spherical shape and buoyant and are attached by a cable to an anchor that rests on the bottom of the sea so that the mine is submerged to a considerable depth, this depth being regulated by mechanism attached tothe anchor.- The enemy vessel for which many mines are placed is the submarine, and as these ves sels are usually of cylindrical shape it can readily be seen that when the greatest horizontal diameter of the vessel is-at a slightly greater or less depth than the greatest hori- Zontal diameter of the mine, the vessel can strike the mine and not rotate orfire and explode it.

It is essential for the successful destruction of the submarine and other enemy'vessels that the mine be provided with an efficient means that will fire and explode it when the vessel approaches suificiently near to be destroyed by the. explosion of the mine.

i It has been stated on undisputable authority that'the usual mine now employed vwill destroy a submerged submarine vessel if exploded within fifty feet of the vessel and that the explosion of the mine within one hundred feet of a submerged submarinewill injure the latter so that it must rise to the surface where it becomes an easy 'victim of gun fire. 1 j

The magnetic field of a submarine is known by actual test to be suflicient .to osc llate a magnetic needle at distances .of fifteen to thirty feet and in some cases this field is believed to be much greater. The present invention seeks to provide an improved instrument which can be mounted, directly upon or attached to the usual marine mine so that-when a submarine" or other vessel approaches within the distance of the magnetic field of the vessel the'inwill be effected, and vessels will be destroyed that are submerged to a greater or less depth .4

than the mine, owing to the angles along which magneticforceis known to attract or re ulse. I

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter set forth and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, the accompanying drawings illustrating certain forms of the invention. i

In the drawings':.

Figure 1, is a vertical sectional view with certain minor parts shown in full View of the preferredform of the improved mine firing instrument taken on line 11 of Fig. 2.. I

'Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-.-2 of Fig. 1.

view with certainparts removed and others broken away.

' Fig. 4:, is an enlarged fragmentary inverted sectional of Fig. 1..

. g V V V Fig.3, is an enlarged fragmentary plan zontal sectional view taken on 1ine.5-5, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on'line 66 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical sectional view of the upper bearing pin and connections taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical-sectiona-l view ofthe lower post taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9-is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lower needle hub taken on line 99 of Fig. l, the upper needle hubbeing of duplicate form and construction only'smaller. I Y

. F ig.. 10 is a view in elevation with cer tain parts broken away, of a modified form of the improved mine firing instrument.

Fig. 11 is a plan view with the cover broken'away to show the interior construction. i a i Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11, with certain small parts shown in full view.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 1% is an enlarged fragmentary vertical view taken on line -121 lof Fig. 16.

i F i 15 is an enlar ed fra 'menta verti- D D b cal sectional .view taken on line 1515"of Fig. 16. I

Fig. 16 isra fragmentary duplication of F ig; 12, excepting that certain minor parts are modifiedand differ therefrom. V Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary verti cal sectional view taken on line'1717 of Fig. 16. 7

Fig. 18 is a view'in elevation of a further modified form of the improved marine mine firing instrument with certain parts broken away to show the construction.

Fig. 19 is vertical sectional View of the upper part of Fig. 18, taken on line 19-19. Fig. 20 is a fragmentary enlarged broken plan view of this modified form. F ig, 21 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 2121 of Fig. 19. a

Fig. 22 is an enlargedplan View of the magnetic needle employed in the form illustrated in view 18"to 22 inclusive, this construction being duplicate in all'the forms illustrated in views 18 to '27 inclusive.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 2-3-23 of Fig. 19. V

Fig. 24 illustrates a further modified form of construction from that shown in Figs. 18

to 23 inclus've, the viewcorresponding-to the vertical'sectional view Fig. 19 butwith minor changes in construction. J '1 Fig. .25 is an enlarged inserted sectional view taken on line 2525 of F ig. 24;.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the form shown in 24:, with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview taken on line 2727 of Fig. 26.

. Fig. 28 is a plan view of a still further modified form of the marine firing instrument, with the cover plates broken away to show the interior. i

I Fig. 29 is a vertical sectional view taken online 2929 of F ig. 28.

' Fig. 30 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken'on line 30 30 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged fragmentary plan 7 View of certain parts shown in Fig. 28.

The containing box, 1 gimble ring 2, and hingedly connecting suspension pins 3 and 4: are ofordinary-construction, and are for the purpose of supporting the instrument in a true level and vertical position as a mariners compass.

The bowl 5 is of cylindrical shape preferably true and smooth throughout the interior thereof so that a rotary motion will not rotate the liquid 6 and parts sensitive to magnetic attraction, as will be hereinafter described, the bowl being hingedly connected to thegimble ring 2 by the pins 4, and the gimble" ring'hingedly connectedto the box 1 by the pins 3, it being understood that the instrument is attached to a marine mine and that the mine will, owing to the action of the waves when the water is rough as during a storm, tossto and fro and be slightly rotated. The attachment of the instrument to the'mine however, is no part of the present invention. V

The cover plate 7 rests upon the bowl 5 and is clamped thereto, sufliciently tight to hold liquid, by the ring 8 and the screws 9, it being obviousthat if both the plate and bowl are true and smooth the joint will not 'is thepipe 10, which is as shown in the preferred form integral with the plate, there being no advantage in this form in separating the pipe and making it adjustable as in the modified forms,'for the reason that this pipe is not lengthened or shortened to adjust the v distance between the .magnctic needles, while in the modified forms the pipe is adjusted according to the distance between the needles as will appear hereinafter.

. The pipe 10 is threaded on the exterior and fitted preferably air tight by the cap nut 11 preferably of insulating material, the interior of the pipe also being threaded and fitted with the threaded ring 12 which is provided with the cross bar 13 integral with the Mug. 7

The ring 14: restsloosely upon the bottom 15 of the bowl-5, the plate 16 resting in turn loosely on 'thering, andfrom the plate projects upward the post 17, the jewel 18 resting upon the post and supporting the ordinary hub 19, to which is secured the ordinary lower compass needle 20.

1 Loosely fitting the hub 19 is the sleeve 21 which is provided withthe slot 22, the pin 23 rigid with the hub and projecting therefrom, fitting within this slot and connecting the hub and sleeve rotatively but allowing the sleeve to be otherwise free on the hub so that the needle 20 can slightly oscillate transversely upon the post resulting in the needle being more responsive to the earths poles and other magnetic influence.

Fitting loosely in the sleeve 21 so that the distance inserted in the sleeve can be adjustable, but held rigid by the screws 24, is the stem 25 which is provided with the enlarged portion 26, the braces 27 being secured to this enlarged portion of the post by the rivet 28, the lower frame member 29 resting upon the braces and being secured thereto by the rivets 30, this latter member being bent upward at 31 and flanged outward at 32 and havingsecured thereto by the rivets 33, the frame member 34, the frame memebr-35 in turn being secured to the latter member by the rivets 36.

The stem 25 has rigidly secured thereto, the post 37, the hub 38 resting on the latter and supporting the upper compass needle 39, the needle and hub and post being a cluplication of thepost l7, hub 19 and the needle 20 excepting that they are smaller, as it is essential to employ an upper needle of smallerdimensions than the lower needle so that the upper needle will not prevent the lower needle from always pointing approxi mately north and south, and so that the lower needle will possess sui'iicient magnetic influence to retain the north and south position and reverse the poles of the upper needle, it being understood that if both needles were of the samedimensions and degree of magnetism that one would point approximately northwest and southeast and the other would point approximately northeast and southwest.

lhe stem 40 is fitted tothe upper needle hub 38 in duplicate manner as the sleeve 21 isifitted to the lower needle hub 19, and it is maintained in relatively fixedposition with the upper needle 39, the latter needle and the stem 40 being free constructively to rotate upon the upper post 37, but the upper needle is normally held in alinement with the lower needle by magnetic influence.

The frame 35 is provided with the insulating connectors 41, and the stem 40 is pro- I vided with the insulating sleeve 42 so that no leakage of electrical energy can occur through the liquid 6.

Extending upward from theupper stem 40 through thefupperifra'me 35 and through the crossbar 13 of' thethreaded ring 12 is the bearing pin 43, the pin forming a rotary bearing in the crossbar, while to the crossbar is connected by the screw .44 the brush 45, making electrical connection from the threaded ring12 to the pin. The threaded ring 12 is in electrical connection with the pipe 10 and the screw 46 is provided to connect the wire 47 of theprimary ignition circuit. V

The hub 48 is rigidly secured to the upper frame 35 and in electrical connection therewith, the hub being provided with the insulating bushing .49 which forms a free rotary bearing on the bearing pin 43 sothat constructively the frame and pin arefree to rotate in the same direction and in opposite directions.

Secured to the crossbar 13 of the threaded nut 12 by the bolt 50 is the insulation bushing 51, upper insulating collar 52, lower insulating collar 53, contact spring 54 and contact brush 55, the brush bearing on the hub 48 and making electrical connection through the brush, the bolt and the spring to the screw 56, the latter passing through the insulation material cap nut 11 and being held in position by the nut 57, this screw serving as a connector for the wire 58 of the primary electrical circuit.

The cap collar 59 of insulating material is provided on the bearing pin 43 with a slight clearance betweenthe collar and the contact spring 54 so that if the instrument is subjected toviolent movements in any direction or turned to inverted position all the interior parts will be held in relative position and not become disarranged.

, Secured to the frame 35 is the upper contact 60 and the lower contact 61, each of double U shape, and presenting respectively edge 63 facing upward and the former edge 62 facing downward, the contact edgesmeet-V in on a pro-Ximatel the same horizontal plane but slightly separated.

Rigid with the upper stem 40 and the bearing pin 43 is the contact plate 64 with two arms 65 and 66, the arms normally retaining the position shown in Fig. 5, but

positioned to pass between the contacts 60 and 61 when either needle is rotated from its normal position of alinement' with the remaining needle. r v

The distance between the magnetic needles 20 and 39 is adjustable by employing various sized rings 14 or by employing various numbers of rings 14 and by adjusting the distance of the stem 25 in the sleeve 21, the view Fig. 1 showing the needles sepa} rated to the greatest-distance allowable as constructed.

The wires 47 and 58 are v cuit with the usual battery and ignition devices, ;all of which are of common and well connected in ciri es'z'flrea v 1 known; censtruction and no-partoi the; presjecting upward therefron iiist the pnst 37? entinvention, it being understood that-the"on which rests th e jewel18, the latter sup instrumentgcan 1 he tgtaehedto; the, mine porting the needleBQe and prevideclwith: the i j v i any. desireclrnanner whiehis no part of the rigidly depending weight-82 surrounding v I iPF $@11$;i V6 1ti0n-I: @,zwmiw 5-' -the post and balancing the needle in lev 'el7-0- l/Vl ienthe ineedles'EZGandBQ Jrjesuhj cted lzpesitionifilhisweight'isrequiredtenths-"* 1 to; magnetic attraction or repulsion one of 1 reason that the jewel 18 is approximately i a v v ,v ;;t ,1 needleslwi li immediately rotate: severjalqin horizontal alinement with the needle so: 5 j;,';i degrees in misdirection :and theremaining th'atthe needle'will lrem'aini'ste'ady whenithe' ,;'m;' ;v: l insecllexwill:rotate several degrees: in the housihg '68 isrocked to froin GithBTFS' i v v ohbcsitedirection-,bringingoneofzthearms direction,

-65 and 6S intoco-ntact with one or; both of r The contact hlate 164 in thisform is se-' 2 I i 1 1 the contacts 4 0; iandfil: and I completing :the cured to the weight '82 and is provided with ewires l75, and 11331865, flntl ifi fWhlCliOIi'tlTe IOtatIOIII f U and firing and. explodin the; 111-1116 I reither needle. few degreesor the rotation; g g p p i fibvi L Sire whei'erego ng that. when 3 oth :ne edles m oppositedirection will I I I vessel, approach uiiicientlynearthei ntachwith theccntactmembers7 andi 7f8 I z 1 f I, I, f strument; gto= rotat he needles in opposite it beingunderstood'thatithe direfctl-o wzidiregtl.

nit; willbe closed and tation will determine: which of the g i and:, t-Qmatters;inotwandtfi i: ill mak'ethe connectiom 1 ;;:whether;thegmagnetie force; is attraction orr:':.lnI ig.:16:a slight: modifieatien from th f 7 3 '5 P 1 Q -wv- -rui :4: i-io ee i ls em deins he s h jyinthemnditied; rmlustrat ediin Figsn 76P -and theccntac members 77 and78 1G; to; 17 inclusive the; Same principles: of are: longer thanthose just described and the i cciflstructicnare employedandthe Ioperaticn E cen tactiplate fielissecured to the needle hub i th same as; ti hereinbefore described;,- 38 above the heedke 39 the contact E thatth ej upperneejdie a 'i1is 65 :ancl fifi are longer-sea to-reach n theliquid fi yand itieacontactmembers 77F'and; 78?; :flf ff inor changes in nonstructinn as will -'Ihe modified tori lustrate. "11 Figs.- 18 ently= accommodate the :removal of, to 23 inclusive differs: from that jitst 3 def 9 3 1 dle'3i9 mm the .liquid'G4.C- iscrihe 'n ehatadieerentrerm Genom Thebe 55min? hallowdeptlrandco. g fare;employed;thehousing68? id ZOi andg accompanying n1etal-cap 69 'being of practically the'lsame I I g I i parts} practically a: duplication of that here-i construction as that et the term '1 last :here 1 1 1 f 1 j 1 j i D i I 'inbeforedescribed but-the cover'plate 7- is: inbei'oredescribe'd; """1'00 provided with an internally threaded pipe The sleeve 21 receives the stem 70", and 10 in which is adjust-ably mounted V the the latter is provided with an enlarged pornipple 67; V tion 83 from which rigidly projects the con- The nipple 67 is secured to the upper tactpins 84: the enlarged portion havin housing 68 and is provided with the metal mounted thereon, the post 37 the needle 39 105 cap nut 69, the nipple being adjustable as restin on the post and provided with the to the length extending from the pipe 10 hub'So from which projects rigidly the conand the stem 70 being adjustable in the sleeve tact pin 86 the latter playing between the 21 so that the housin and all parts con-V pins 84 and contacting with one or the other t ained therein can easily be lowered toward depending on the direction of'rotation of the 110 the needle 20 or raised farther therefrom. needle 39. V 7

Around the stem '70 is rigidly'secured the The stem contacts through the bushinsulation material 71 to which in turn is ing 87 to the metal cap 69' and through the secured the hubs 72 and 73, the hub 7 2 behousing 68' to the screw 88 to-which'the wire 50 ing insulated from the stern and provided 89 is connected, the needle hub contacting 1 15 with the projecting boss 7%. The arms through the pin 90 to the spring plate 91 and76 are rigidly connected to and in elecand to the screw 92 which connects with the tricai connection with the respective hubs wire 93, the upper cover plate 94 being of v 72 and 73 and on these arms are mounted insulating material. 55 the contact members-7 7 and 78 respectively. In the modifiedrform illustrated in Figs. From the stem 7 0 electrical connection is 24: to 27 ihclusive, adjustable nipple 67 opens made through the contact brush 45 to the into the housing 68 andthe cover plate 94 screw la to the cap nut 69 and the'housing is provided with the upwardly projecting 68 to the'screw i-6 and wire 47?, while from pipe 95 the latter being fitted with the 60 the boss 7% electrical connection is made threaded cap 96 of insulating material. through the brush 55 to thescrewr 79 and The sleeve 21.is provided'with the post insulated wire 80, the screw 79 being in- 37 on which rests the needle 39 and has sulated frorn' the cap nut 69 by the insurigidly connected thereto the frame 97 lating collar 81. which passes upward'through the needle and 65 Rigidly. secured .to the hub 73'andvprois rigidlysecured tothe hub 98, the latter being provided with themetal bushing 99 and in this metal bushing is rigidly fitted the insulating bushing 100.

From the frame 97 depends two contact pins 84 and between these pins is positioned the single contact pin 86, the latter pin pro-. jecting rigidly from the stem 101 which is fittedloosely on the needle hub 102, but held rigidly against rotation, this stem passing through the hub 98, bushing 99 and insulating bushing 100, and into the bushing 103 which is rigidly secured in the screw 104, and from this screw the wire 105 leads and forms one line of the electrical circuit. Fitting loosely around the metal bushing 99 is the contact ring 106 to which is secured the coiled contact spring 107, the latter connecting to the screw 108 from which leads the circuit wire 109.

The operation of this form is the same as that of those hereinbefore described, the pin 86 contacting with the pins 84 as the needle is rotated by magnetic influences the particular pin '84 employed to complete the connection depending on the directionof the rotation of the needle 39.

In Figs. 28 to 31 inclusive is illustrated a slight modification of construction from all the forms hereinbefore described. In this form the adjustable nipple 67 is secured tothe upper housing 68 and has fitted thereto the metal cap plate 69 the latter having fitted rigidly therein the contact bushing 110 in which is rotatively fitted the bushing 111, the bushing being rigidly secured in the cupped flange 112 with the contact pins 113 rigidly secured to the flange and projecting upward therefrom.

The bushing 111 and cupped flange 112 are rigidly secured to and insulated from the stem 7 0 by the insulating material 114, the stem being adjustably secured in the sleeve 21 and having mounted thereon the hubbed flange 115 from which projects rigidly upward the needle post 37 and the contact pins 116, the post being mounted by the single bar needle 39 Loosely fitting around the stem 7 0 is the contact ring 117 to which is secured the spring 118, the latter leading to the screw 119, and the screw in turn connecting to the plate 120,

. the screw 121 connecting the plates 120 and 122, but both plates are insulated from the cap plate 69.

To the plate 122 is connected by the screw 123, the bar 124 and this leads to the screw 125 which is insulated from the housing 68 by the insulator 126 and provided with the clamp nut 127 to connect the wire 128.

The needle 39 has mounted rigidly thereon the insulating block 129 in which is pivoted the contact plate 130 the points 131 and 132 of which alternately connect the opposing pairs of pins 113 and 116 as the needle is slightly rotated on the post 37 and as cal circuit is completed and the marinemine' fired and exploded.

. It is obvious that many changes may be made in theconstruction as setforth without departure fromthe merit of the invention.

hat I claimasnew and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is

1. In a firing instrument for, marine mines, two magnetized bodies arranged one above the other, each of said bodies mountedv to rotate around an approximately vertical axis, and a pair of electrical circuit closing contact members arranged so that a movement of either of said bodies in a rotary di rection with respect to said axis will connect said contacts and close the electrical circuit.

2. In a firing instrument for 'marine mines, two magnetized bodies arranged one above the other, said'bodies mounted to rotate around an approximately vertical and common aXis, and electrical circuit closing mines, two compass needles arranged" oneabove the other, said needles normally alining in approximately parallel directions, and electrical circuit closing contacts arranged so that when the alinement of said needles is disturbed said contacts will connect and closevthe electrical circuit. I V

4. In a firing instrument for marine mines, two compass needles arranged one above the other, said needles contained in a vessel, said needles submerged in liquid, said needles normally alining in approximately parallel directions, and electrical circuit closing contact members connecting through suitable connections to said needles so that when the needles are forced from alinement said contact members will connect and complete the electrical circuit." 1

5. In a firing instrument for marine mines, a lower magnetic needle with north and south poles, the north pole of said needle normally pointing approximately north, an

upper magnetic needle with north and south poles, said upper needle positioned over sa1d lower needle but close enough to sa1d lower needle so that the magnetic force from said lower needle will cause the normal north needle, a post mounted on said lower stem, an upper compass needle mounted OD'SiLld post, a'frame extending upward from said lower stem and above said upper needle,

an upper stem extending upwardly from said upper needle and through said frame and forming a rotary bearing insaid frame and forming" av rotary bearing rigidly supported by said bowl, a contact member with two arms thereof spaced radially apart, a, contact member on said frame, each Of'Sflld contact members being in electrical connec- 7. In a firing instrument for marine mines, a pan of compass needles ad acently mounted, one of said needles pointing approxi mately north, the remaining needle pointing approximately south, means to support said needles, a pair of contact members, each of said contact members connected through suitable connections to one of said needles, and said contact members forming the meeting terminals of an open electrical circuit so that when said needles are efiiected by mag netic influence said needles will rotate in opposite directions and connect said contact members and close the electrical circuit.

' 8. In a firing'instrument for marine mines, a supporting structure, a lower post carried by said structure, a lower compass needle mounted on said post, a stem rising from said lower needle, an upper post carried :by said stem, an upper needle mounted on said upper post, a contact member connected by suitable connections to said stem, a contact member connected by suitable connections to. said upper needle, and said contact members eachforming a connectible member of an openv electrical circuit so that magnetic influence will rotate said needles in opposite directions and connect said contact members and closethe electrical circuit. I

9. In a contact making device, two magnetized bodies arranged one above the other,

said bodies mounted to rotate around an approximately vertical and. common axis, and electrical circuit closing contacts arranged sothat amovement of either of said bodies in a rotary direction will connect said contacts and close said electrical circuit. I

10. In a contact'making device, two magnetized bodies arranged one above the other, said bodies being mounted to permit relative rotation around an approximately vertical and common axis, and electricalcircuit vclosing contacts arranged so that relative movementor said bodies in a rotary direction will connect said contacts and close the electrical circuit. 7

' LEMUEL J HUSTED. 

